If you are thinking of boosting the energy efficiency of your home, this is the year to do it.
The federal government is offering rebates for energy-saving home improvements like solar panels, insulation, energy-efficient windows and insulation. And now, with President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package, local and state governments are stepping up to make such home improvements even more affordable for homeowners, writes Cyberhomes contributor Stephanie Pearson.
For instance, Berkeley, Calif., has an innovative program in which the city will finance installation of home solar energy systems by city-approved installers -- homeowners will then pay off the installation through a property-tax assessment over 20 years, she says. Other cities are likely to follow Berkeley's lead.
Savings on windows, insulation
Perhaps it's time to tackle some energy improvements for my own home. I've been told that the cheap windows in my 7-year-old house in Central New Jersey will need to be replaced in five years or so, and my attic could use some flooring and added insulation. (Our upstairs is at least 5 degrees cooler in the winter than the main floor of our home is, a sign that the heat is going straight through the roof.)
With federal tax credits now available, I could recoup up to 30 percent of the cost of the windows and insulation (not including labor costs), or up to $1,500. Of course, $1,500 doesn't go far when we're talking about replacing windows and adding insulation, but it would help.—Lauren Baier Kim